Waterfall Mist Honeybush Tea, a relatively Plum Deluxe blend made of honeybush, orange peels, and peppermint. Now I am familiar with this brand but have never personally ordered from them and when I came across this sample in a traveling teabox, I was intrigued.
Since the sample was generous, I decided to experiment with this tea though all cups were steeped in 200 degree water for 3 minutes.
First, I brewed it hot, my typical go-to method for all new teas. The hot cup tastes first and foremost of mint. Cooling peppermint, in fact. Honeybush is the next thing I pick up, tasting a sweetness typical of this base but also a slight wood note. Finally, if I focus, I can catch a bit of orange pithiness here and there but mostly it is drowned out by the other ingredients.
Next, given the summery and cool flavors of orange and mint, I thought this would make for a nice iced tea. Giving it a try now, I can say mint is still the most prominent note but it is certainly toned down when compared to the hot cup. That allows for some more bright orange/citrus flavors to come through. The base is also more subtle in the iced tea, though still contributing its trademark honeybush sweetness.
Finally, as per the recommendation on the packaging, I made a second iced tea and added a splash of lemonade. Since this was my first time adding lemonade to tea, I was excited to see how it would turn out but if I am being honest, I am not a fan. The lemonade makes the tea flatter, or I suppose it weighs it down making for a thicker mouthfeel that is less refreshing and more heavy. Plus, while I was hoping for some zing from the lemonade to pull out the orange in the tea, it was no where to be found. The lemonade lost its usual tartness while the tea lost most of its flavoring besides mint. Combined with the lemonade though, that mint is more medicinal than in the other two cups. To me, it seems the whole is less than the sum of its parts. Perhaps my “splash” of lemonade was more than what Plum Deluxe had in mind?
Ultimately, this was an alright cup of tea. Well cups, I suppose. Nothing mindblowing but still quite solid. I think it is best iced and can see it being a delightful companion on a hot and humid day.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
First featured in July 2016, the Waterfall Mist is an gentle, exacting combination of orange and mint. This tea has a similar feeling of refreshing simplicity. Enjoy it iced, as a sangria infusion, with a splash of lemonade, or frozen into tea popsicle!
All Organic ingredients. Honeybush Tea, Orange Peel, Peppermint. No caffeine. Steep 1 tsp in boiling water 3-5 minutes or cold brew overnight.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberry Muffin Honeybush from 52Teas. . . .
I love 52 Teas. They have a great selection of unique and exciting flavored teas thanks to their business model of releasing a new small batch custom blended hand-crafted tea each week. The only downfall? The flavors go fast so if you fall in love, you have to act quickly to make sure you get your hands on that particular tea before it is sold out. That, or you hope and beg and pray for the 52 Teas gods to bless you with a reblend of your beloved flavor. I mention this because this particularly tea, Blueberry Muffin Honeybush, is not currently available on 52 Teas website but it may return in the future.
The blueberry flavor of this tea is perfect. It is juicy and just a little sweeter than the fruit itself but that is because it is more reminiscent of the blueberries found in muffins which are more syrupy sweet than fresh blueberries. The honeybush, though a little woody, also contributes a honeyed baked goods flavor that helps sell the idea of blueberry muffins. On top of all that, this tea is a touch buttery which is like the cherry on top.
This tea is a great evening treat. Being based on honeybush means it is naturally caffeine free and that means even the caffeine-sensitive won’t be kept up at night after enjoying a cup.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This blend is not currently available but click below for blends that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Orange Cardamom Pistachio Honeybush from 52Teas. . . . . .
I needed a special tea to go with Pad Thai Zoodles tonight. Zoodles are spiralized zucchini “noodles” used like you use pasta. There were carrots and sweet peppers, spring onions and chopped walnuts, along with potstickers and a lime soy sauce. Lots of flavor in the food means that some green teas would get lost as an accompaniment.
In steps this delightful Honeybush. I think my daughter put it best when she said, “Mom, this tea is more complicated than a woman.”
On top and up front we taste orange, with the cardamom warming the back of the sip. This is some of the warmest cardamom I have had. I usually perceive cardamom as lemony but this one had me checking the package to see if maybe there was just of hint of some kind of chili pepper in here. No, just tasting the cardamom. And it’s just a little nutty. In other words, it was the perfect accompaniment to the meal and had hubby picking up the (empty) pot looking for more. Guess I better make another pot!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Chocolate Samoa from The NecessiTeas. . . .
After learning of The NecessiTeas, I was so excited to place an order. I just NEEDED to try all the amazing flavors the company offered. This is one of the teas that really caught my eye. Unfortunately it is also one of the teas that was sold out when I placed my order. Luckily I have a Fairy Godmother…or Fairy Godsisters, I should say.
The smell of the coconut is what hits first. However, in flavor, the caramel takes over. It is a little bit chocolate but the caramel is what shines here. Coconut and white chocolate does contribute a creaminess but not as much flavor as I anticipated it might given the smell. The base is rich in honey notes but also has a baked good quality when coupled with the other ingredients.
Like so many other NecessiTea blends, I think this captures it’s namesake quite well. I could always do with a little more white chocolate and a little more coconut but this is still very flavorful and made for a nice treat.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: The NecesiTeas
Description
Growing up I was a Girl Scout and I was great at “selling” cookies. I would polish off a box of Samoas after school while working on my homework. Chock up another “sale” my parents had to chip in for. Gone are the days when it was okay to eat an entire sleeve of cookies. So here’s my guilt-free version of the classic Samoa. As always, I like to put a spin on things so I used white chocolate instead then added sweet caramel and toasted coconut to recreate an old favorite.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Just “Peachy” from AKA Tea. . . .
Summer is coming and it is almost time for juicy, ripe peaches! I am enjoying that flavor early today with this delightful honeybush blend from AKA Tea.
The website has a lovely recipe for making this as a sweetened iced tea and I can hardly wait to give that a try, but for today I am in need of tea FAST and it is overcast and gloomy outside. This is a great day to try this one hot!
And oh man, did it ever hit the spot! This tastes just like biting into a fresh peach that is still warm from the summer sun, and sends juice dribbling down your hand to your arm. No sugar needed to enjoy the fresh fruit flavor here. It was a real show stopper. It grabbed my attention and made me really savor the cup.
Since I am tired with lots more work to go laying sod, it was a real pick-me-up before I head back out. This summer, I can drink as much as I want, as late as I want, because this is honeybush! Hooray! And iced in the 95 degree heat we regularly experience? Yes, please!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Aka Tea
Description
Life is “Just Peachy” with this honeybush blend! Keep it happy and just a little sappy.
The wonderful aroma of sweet peach is bound to put a smile on your face.